Sprinkler head



Nov. 20, 1945. l EI'TYDEN 2,389,334`

l SPRINKLER HEAD Filedsept. 1'1, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jade/d@ WM z5 MQW Nov. 20,` 1945.V

' E. TYDEN SPRINK-LER HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l1, 1944 inates certain objections Patented Nov. 20, 1945 AUNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE sPmNKLEn HEAD 'Emil Tyden, Hastings, Mich. Application September 11, 1944, VSerial No. 553,541

-c 11 claims. (ci. 16o- 40) This invention relates to sprinkler heads designed for use in fire extinguishing systems, and one object of the invention is to provide a new and improved sprinkler head which is adapted to be installed with its lower end closely adjacent the plane of the ceiling of a room. This elimto standard sprinkler heads which have been customarily installedy at a substantial distance below the ceiling of a room and which are sometimes considered unsightly, particularly in stores and ofces where specialattention is paid to the nish and decoration vof wall surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler head of relatively simple and compact construction, occupying a comparatively small space in a vertical direction and therefore adapted for installation mainly between the ceiling and the loor above it even when the distance between these elements is quite limited.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler head adapted for mounting in the ceiling and having a water spreading or deflecting device arranged to be automatically lowered below the plane of the ceiling whenv the sprinkler becomes operative by reason of fire conditions.

It is also an object of the invention 'to provide a sprinkler head having its operative mechanism and its deflector kdisposed mainly above the plane of the ceiling but with its fusible element supported 'slightly below said plane for certain exposure to the currents of heated air flowing across the ceiling under re conditions.

More specically, it is an object'of the invention to provide a sprinkler head mechanism which includes a water discharge Aport with a valve or cap for such port normally held in port closing position by a fusible element, and a deector carried by flexible retained normally in collapsed position bythe fusible element and extensible, upon release, to support the dei-lector at an operative distance from the port. As disclosed herein the collapsible support for the deilector is resilient and therefore self-extensible upon release, but is also relatively rigid in directions transverse to its axis of collapse and extension, so that it will hold the delector substantially opposite the port, whether the sprinkler head is installed with the axis of the port extending vertically or horizontally or obliquely. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the' drawings iny which;

1 is a sideelevation of a sprinkler'he'ad and collapsible supporting meansembodying this invention showing it connected to` a supply pipe and with the parts in normal position prior to operation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical and substantially axial sectional view on a larger scale than Fig. 1, also showing the parts in normal position.

Fig. 3 is a plan viewvof the retaining toggle.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the spreader.

Fig. 5 is an axial section' taken at the same plane as Fig. 2, but showing the sprinkler head in operation, with the spreader lowered to operative position. l

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the'flexible and collapsible coil spring which serves as a support for the spreader, taken at the same scale as Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is ya bottom plan view of the sprinkler head housing.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a wrench for installingor removing the head.

While there is shown and described certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that Various modications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as indicated by the appended claims. It should also be understood that although the fire extinguishing liquid most commonly employed is water, the present invention is applicable to apparatus employing other fluids, and that wherever in the specication'or claims water is referred to, it is intended as a generic term denoting any suitable fluid for use inflre extinguishing systems.

As shown in Fig. 1,' a portion of the water supplypipe is indicated at I connected into a T tting 2 with a depending nipple 3 onto which an anchorage member in the form of a housing ll is screwed. The lhousing is thus removable if desired, and is usually removed after a ilre for replacement and resetting of the valve and other parts.v 'f

The housing 4 is shown as substantially cylindrical in form and as seen in Fig. 2, it includes an integrally cast'nozzle portion 5 disposed centrally within the housing and providing an annular space 5 around'the nozzle. The nozzle terminates in a port 1 which is normally closed by a cap or valve member 8, preferably consisting of a metallic disk 8a and the thin sheet metal liner 8b shown in Fig. 5. The valve disk 8a. has a central projection or knob 8c which is engaged bythe upper end of the set screw 9 carried in tile threaded central portion of a toggle member which extends nearly across the lower end The toggle Vconsists of the member Ill` of the housing 4, and the member II which is pirated to the member I at I2, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5. The lower Aend of the housing 4 is formed with an inwardly projecting flange which provides an upwardly facing shoulder I3 and one end ci the toggle member Il) is formed with a projection Iib which rests upon this shoulder I3. The toggle member I I has a noseor projection i lb which is similarly supported enV the shoulder i3 and theA toggle-'members are formed withidepending arms I 0c and IIc, respectively, which are connected by a fusible link I4. When the set screw 9 is adjusted into position to clamp the cap Y or valve member 8 into port closing position it reacts with a tendency to force the toggle members downwardly and this the tension of the link I Il, vlhereby-fthe 'v -alve member 8 is maintained normally in closed position.

There is also carried. within the housing a deiieictororsprea'der i5 which may b e a disk -of sheet metal with its peripheral portion :prefer-k ably uptu-rned l"and slotted, and having additional perforations as seen in Fig. 4, for directing and dispersing water as it strikes. the upper surface of theedeiiec'to'r.v For convenience, tbefdeflector is normally.'disposed'concentrically with the valve member. and Emay :be formed with a central opening `AIiurz .prqvidingcleara'nce for the .set screw SrWhich iholdstbe `valve l8 seated. The spreader I5 is attached to the housing 4 by means oidlex- `ible suspending means 4which is shownas vacoil spring v-I6 having blower-end f-attached to the spreader 'I6 :and :having @its ,upperf end secured in thetopwall 'of theehousing 4,-fa`sfby small anchor rivets I1. The spreader may be formed with lugs .lsb-whichfare clinchediover 'the'terminal coil of the spring I6 at itsfldwer end. .The 'spring I6 -is -of a suitable length fto support fthe spreader in operative position 'at @distance ibelow the Idischargport as shown Fig. f5, 'However, when the spreader is disposed within the housing 4 yas 4seen in Fig. 2,thespring ENi -is collapsedand accommodated within the fannularrspace lt around `the;r1ozzl'e-=5,itlfie uppermos'tcoil-being Iin a plane atright angle tothe'axis "ofthe spring and being fitted: snugly Qinto the ang-le between the top 'wall .of the space 6 and --the `cylindrical wall thereof. The toggle v portion IIlld which 'closes :the lower fend -o'f the housing `when --the parts 4are ithus disposed.

The fusible link VHI is 1of 'the :type icommonly employed in sprinkler heads, comprising two members secured face torace byffusible material, suclji as i solder, with the en ly of gone :member -en- :gaged with the armlcand withtheendof the other inembenengaged with the `arm I I c y.so that when subjectedgto a predetermined v.temperature vthe solder -willfmelt randthetwo members will pull apart under the tension constantly exerted -on them bythe arms Illcancl IIe. When the link I`4 `i`s` thus released.byatemperature indicating the presence ofl-fire conditions, the pressure of tendency is resisted by the port I' so as to permit a deluge of water from the port 'I to impinge upon the spreader I5 and to be deflected and distributed thereby, part of the water being thrown against the ceiling A and a portion of it being discharged directly down- V:topclose the annular clearance opening 29 which is lformed in the ceiling A around the housing 4, an annular plate 2| is removably attached in any ciivehieifmanner as by screws 22 to the lower endof'thehousing and is dimensioned to over- 'the springAIG upon the togglemember 'IIJ insures initial .movement of `the '.toggledownwardly and the Vwaterpressure acting against the Valve-8 :and tbrigh'tlie setjscrewil` will o perate'with the same efect, causing the armY -I I c oithe toggle member `I"I `tbswingabotits pivot soasto-unseatits nose or projection '-I fb "from .A the .shoulder f I-3 and thus 'releasethetoggle from the housing 4. Asg the tog- "gle Jfalls 'away Jthe' spreader y I 5{ will drop to the ,position .shown ini Fig. 5 inwhih vitissuspended by v the spring `I 6 'directly saline time the'valyeor capwill be unseated from blowthe port-'L At'tlfle .quenchingfa-re within -the -ad-jacent area.

-, to lreceiueiacrossfpin at lap the opening 20. Upon the termination of the fire orbth'er condition which caused operation of the sprinkler` head the water supply in the ,pipe @I is -shut oi `at :a remote control ral-Ve and the sprinklerhead or housing4 `is preferably l.removed for V servicing and resetting. ,"fIlh-is involves simply theremoval of the screws 'Z'Zand `plate 2-I so as to expose the radially extendi-ngrl-ugsd"omthefhouseing4 which--aregengageable by means :of` a special wrench 2.5 'of3the type shown in-Fig. 8. 'When the housing Vhas been -unscrewed ,from the `Ynipple 3 a Lnew \Valve-oap8 willpberplaoed in :position over the port I, with ya Iiewdi-ner y8b., -since .the :cap and liner will usually beflost when :the -val-ve opens; and with the construction shownrthisiwill `involve replacing the -spreadei 5 within the-housing -4 and suitablynesting `the col-lapsed spring f I6 therein. Then., ganew toggle assembly 9 1D., .I\-I, will be adjusted in position-and after l'applica-tion of anew fusible-link 44 'the set screw --9 will be .tightened to secure the-parts. `If adesired, Ithe central boss maand the :screw r9 may ybe drilled 26 :asa y'precaution against looseningfof the screw Vunder vibration to prevent tampering therewith. As already noted, the :fact that the supporting :spring tlror the spreader I5'is flexible-'and :collapsible permits it to be :accommodated iin =a housing :or supporting anchorage 4I -which is compara-tively shallow in vertical dimension-and thesimplgicity of the valve `coI-itrolling mechanism also fpermi-ts rthe housing Aceiling with the 'enti-re sprinkler :head exposed A`to View, `whewtliisisnctobjecti'onable. With either arrangement -it sis Lfou-nd :that -`unusually vsatisfactory distribution' of the Vwater lis secu-red, partly because the Wire of thesupporting spring t6 lis relatively slender and olers fa VAminimum of-,oo struction, -and -par-tty -because :the lcoil AAspring "Hi, 'bei-ng disposed entirely-outside the nozzle 5, idoes .not impair-the flow of waterdischarged-at the lport -`I Yand -permits fit toistri-ke the spreader with `fullyforce, insuring 'maximum distribution for -In some situations it is desirable to install arsprinf -k-lererhead for discharge -of the'water horizontally or fobliq-uely insteadjot fin* a strictly vertical --direction. Y V'Jill11epresentstructure :lends Aitself Y well i9fSuGh-@Qndiiios--bseelisefalthengh #the spring I6 is suicieri'tly ilexible to be collapsed in axial direction, it is stiff-enough tov support the rdeflecto'r'in operative position directly opposite the port 'l .even lwhen the axis ofJthe spring is disposed in a horizontal or inclined direction. As seen in Fig. 6, the end turns of the spring I6 'are disposed in parallel planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spring.

I claim as my invention: Y

l. 'A sprinkler-head for a nre extinguishing system comprising a water supply conduit having a discharge port', a closure cap for said port, a spreader, a xed anchorage, and resilient collapsible 'supporting means connecting the spreader to said anchorage and self-extensible to hold the spreader in operative relation to the said discharge port, together with means including a fusible element normally holding the capV in port closing position and retaining the spreader at a position with its supporting means collapsed, but operable, upon'fusionof said element, to release said cap and said spreader, allowing the supporting means to be extended for presenting the spreader at operative position.

2. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a. water supply conduit having a discharge port, a fixed anchorage adjacent said conduit, a spreader, a closure cap for said port, a flexible and resilient member connecting the spreader to said anchorage, said member being dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from the port but permitting the said cap to be placed in port closing position with the spreader closely adjacent thereto and with the connecting member flexed, and means including fusible means normally holding the cap and spreader in that position.

3. A sprinkler head for a re extinguishing system comprising a water supply conduit having -a discharge port, anchorage means carried by and externally of said conduit, a closure cap for said port, a spreader with a helically formed member connecting the spreader to said anchorage means and dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from said port, and means including a fusible element normally holding the cap in port closing position and operable, upon fusing of said element, to release the cap.

4. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a water supply conduit having a discharge port, a closure cap for said port, and anchorage structure externally adjacent the conduit, a spreader, a coil spring connecting the spreader to said anchorage dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from said port, and retaining means including a fusible link, said retaining means being detachably engaged with said anchorage structure and normally holding the closure cap in port closing position and holding the spreader adjacent the cap with said coil spring compressedl 5. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a water supply conduit terminating in a nozzle having a discharge port, a closure cap for said port, a spreader, a fixed anchorage adjacent said conduit and a coil spring connecting the spreader to said anchorage, said spring being substantially coaxial with the nozzle with its coils disposed outside the same in position to avoid obstructing a stream issuing therefrom, together with means including fusible means normally holding the cap in port closing position and operable upon fusion to release said cap.

6. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing sys.

tem comprisingawater supply conduit for a discharge port, anchorage means carried by and externallyl of said conduit, va closure cap for said port, a vspreader andk spring means disposed laterally adjacent the port connecting the spreader `t'o said anchorage means and dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from said port, the port 'itself being unobstructed except by said cap, and means including a fusible element normally holding the cap in port closingY position and operable upon fusion of said element to release the cap. l

'7.' A sprinkler head for a re extinguishing system comprising a water supply conduit having a dischargeport, a closure cap for said port, a fixed anchorage externally adjacent the conduit, a spreader, -a coil spring connecting the spreader to said -anchorage and dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from` said port, and meansv including a fusible element and a member held in position4 thereby detachablyengaged with said anchorage and securing the cap in port closing position, said member also upholding the spreader with said coil spring compressed, whereby upon fusing of said element the spring expands, dislodging said member to release the cap and the spreader and lowering the spreader to operative position..

8. A sprinkler head for a fire extinguishing system comprising a water supply conduit having a discharge port, a closure cap for said port, a fixed anchorage externally adjacent the conduit, a spreader, a coil spring connecting the spreader to said anchorage and dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative distance from said port, said anchorage having an upwardly facing shoulder, a member having oneend lodged upon said shoulder, a retaining catch vpivoted to the other end of said member and also lodged upon said shoulder, arms extending downwardly from said member and said catch respectively, with a fusible link connecting said arms, means extending upwardly from said member holding the cap in port closing position and F retaining thespreader with its coil spring compressed, whereby upon fusing of said link the spring expands dislodging said member from the shoulder to release the cap and the spreader and lowering the spreader to operative position.

9. A sprinkler head for a rlre extinguishing system comprising a housing disposed with its lower end substantially flush with a ceiling, a water discharge port within said housing, a closure cap for said port, a spreader, a coil spring connecting the spreader to said housing and dimensioned to support the spreader at an operative position below the port, said housing having an upwardly facing shoulder adjacent its lower end, a member having one end lodged upon said shoulder, a retaining catch pivoted to thev other end of said member and also lodged upon said shoulder, arms extending downwardly from said member and said catch respectively, with a fusible link connecting said arms below the plane of the ceiling, and an adjustable screw extending upwardlyA from said member holding the cap in port closing position, the said member also supporting the spreader with its coil spring compressed for reacting between the housing and said member, whereby upon fusing of said element the spring expands, dislodging said member and its catch from the shoulder to release the cap and the spreader and lowering the spreader to operative position.

10.v A sprinkler head for a re extinguishing systemmrmrising hfmsng, Said .fhfllisng halg afeenbrallyfdisposed .mzzle fiserminaitingrnedwnweed-yawning :dishange ,abort @nel providing :am annuiampaneenoundfswid nozzle within-@liebensinga :apres-der with-a n.coil:searingeomnciiimg it 112.0 thefheusmgfenadmensioned be iacpmmedeted inssiidannul'er epafcewhemfnompressedesampnmg being xiimensienedwhenfexkendeiit9 '.Sumndihe spreader atan feneraitixmesition .fhelemthe upper and lower @ums :in .rpareilel mail@ .HQI- pendoulafr .to .its means @mining ih? MRR?? turn 0f Said Spring iionsfid :tranexielfsurfiepe of the anchorage, means :Seillilgshe lqwelrfitulgn of the eenling @he :Spreader ,Qadfiacni periphery wit-heme exis @.f @aspri-ng :suhstniailly @eingident-fwith :the ,axis Qf tilegmrlt, ,-.a ,fusible .ele ent and .@...memher -h el@ .in msibignfhemhmeid membei -bemg :sietaqhalhiy engaged :Winkl Said encimage and @dented A;1s.0.1f.10.1 d #le .fcaipain mort @ming pesitien with the ,Spreader :dimmed-agi agent he cap @ad with .fseid esprime :axially .eempmsed whereby fupon ifilsing of lseid-lfixrieni @aid member .lis meieasedeand .the femme -.expa.1.1d, idilQdging the member .tQreleeSe .the L.ciw and -lnwelfing the .spreader-t0 ,Qpaiive poition- 

